Direct current amplifier



June 2, 1936 P. H. MACNEIL DIRECT CURRENT AMPLIFIER Original Filed May 20, 1955 which may be used in Patented June -1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE .2.04am Y nmEccr CURRENT Anuman A rui n. mai, Application MayA 20,1933, serm No.

Huntington, N. Y.

Renewed September 13, 1935 Schlimm pliner and has for an object proved construction and whereby direct current of very to provide an. im-

ampluyinc de; vices with certain new connections and devices whereby current from a. thermocouple or thermopile may be amplie'd to operate relays, head phones, meters, loud speakers, other indicating devices.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a diagram disclosing an embodiment of the invention; A v

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in diagram illustrating'-one form of interrupter the structure shown in Figgalvanometers and ure 1;

2Q Figure 3 lis a view. principally diagrammatical,

' current until it is which can `take care illustrating another form of interrupter.

In the present invention various forms of well known lamplifying devices may be used and also, if desired, a form of interrupter may be used of small currents and provide interruptions at a high rate of speed, as, for instance, two to six thousand interruptions per minute. In the structure illustrated the same has been designed especially to take the almost innitesimal current from a thermocouple or thermopile created by a star or by a hot object at a distance and amplify this direct continuous of sufficient amplitude to operate a relay, an indicating device or other devices.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a thermocouple or thermopile arranged in a hood [which preferably, though not necessarily, shutsout the visible light wa'ves but allows the infra red rays or heat rays to freely enter and act on the couple or current producing device I. It wi1l,.be understood that when the term thermocouple is used it is intended to connected to the input switches or by being connected thereto by solder or otherwise. The Wire 4 extends to the primary winding 5 of a transformer 6, while the opposite side. of 'the primary winding is connected'to the wire -1 terminating in a post or contact 8. If desired, the'members 8, 9, III, I0', II and II could besocket terminals ing wires I2 and I3. A

-The connecting wires I2 and I 3 are bld and well `(01.,1'11-95) This invention relatesto a direct current amknown and consist of a good conductor having -a metal plug at the ends adapted to nt into the sockets as Just described. The wire) is connected to terminal 9 and through the connection I2 is connected to the terminal I which in turn is connected, to wire I 4, which wire extends downwardly and is connected to terminal I of the interrupter I6. Socket II is connected .with wire I1 but extends downwardly and the terminal I8 ofv theinterrupter I 6. An ear phone set IS is provided with suitable wires and sockets and 2| whereby the connecting members I2 and I3' may be used to connect the same to the circuit to tell whether or not the interrupter I6 is functioning properly. The interrupter I 6 may be of any desired kind which will interrupt a minute current so as toconvert the current into a pulsating or chopped current whereby it can function with respect to the transformer 6. Ordinarily continuous direct current will not function in respect to a transformer as transformers are used only with alternating current or with pulsating current. Therefore, the continuous direct current secured from the input wires 3 and Il is interrupted 4at close intervals sothat it will be converted into a pulsating current capable of functioning with respect to the transformer 6,.so that the secondary coil 22 thereof may have current generated therein. Current from the-coil l22 extends through suitable wires to the primary coil 23 of a second transformer 24, whereby current will be generated in the secondary coil 25.

During these various steps of transforming the current, the voltage is raised and the amperage is yvery low. From the output wires 26 and 21 of the transformer'24 current flows into a coupled amplification indicated by the letter A in Figure 1. This coupled amplification' is an old 'and well known structure, but is used in the present instance to amplify the amperage so that a greater amperage may be supplied to the primary winding 28 of the transformer 29. Transformer 29 is so arranged that the voltage generated in the secis connected to but the amperage is much higher. 'I'he coupled amplication A, as will be seen from Figure 1,.

utilizes the usual amplifying radio tubes 3|', 32

and 33,. Ordinarily these three stages of amplification of the current received from the thermocouple I is ample when the thermocouple is caused to function by the heat from a star or the J beat from a distant hot object, as for instance, a lighthouse, a Steamship, or the like. However, if desired a 'greater number -oi' amplifying units could be used, or even a less number, Without deto the terminal parting from the spirit of the invention. As the construction of these amplifying units and their various wires and connecting parts are old and well known, it is thought a detailed description thereof will not be necessary, but these detailed structuresand wires are all illustrated in Fig- While the current received in the input wires 3 and 4 is extremely small, for instance, being possibly one-millionth of an ampere 4at a comparatively low voltage, the output from the secondary 30 of transformer 29 is comparatively large in amperage, whereby the various ordinary electrical instruments may be operated as, for instance, a headphone, an ordinary galvanometer or an ordinary indicator operated by a magnetic coil.

As shown in the drawing an indicator 34 of the galvanometer type is shown. Instead of this galvanometer a relay could be. used so as to actuate other devices as, for instance, a fog horn. The current from the winding 30 passes through wire 35 to a terminal 36. This terminal is connected by a switch or connector 31, similar to the connector I2, and consequently current may flow readily through the windings in the galvanometer 34 and back by wire 38 and the conthrough wire 4l to switch 42 when the same is closed to coil 30. When the headphones 43 are used suitable connectors 44 and 45 are used to connect the terminal wires of the head phone members 36 and 40. The head phone may be used when the galvanometer 34 is disconnected, it is connected, as desired. When the parts are all connected up to function properly and the thermocouple I is effected by the heat from the sun, or any of the stars or a hot object on the earth, current will ilow as just described and the needle on the galvanometer 34 will swing over. In detecting a hot object the instrument is swung gradually until it points directly at the object and, consequently the needle of the galvanometer will swing gradually to a high reading and will remain there if the instrument is held on the object. if the instrument back so as partly to be out of object, or completely out of range, the .needle will move back either gradually or completely to its former zero position. t

Referring again to the interrupter 36 it is to be understood that any desired form of interrupter may be used, but in order to illustrate one operative form an interrupter as shown in Figure 2 vmay be used, said interrupter being of a construction that is now known and consisting of a vacuum tube 40 in which metal terminals 41 and 49 are arranged. The tube 46 is preferably formed of glass and has one end which is resilient formed integral with acr'od 49, which has an end 50 normally resting against part of the terminal wire 49, whereby whenever this ,bar is moved as, for instance, pulled downwardly as shown in Figure 2, the terminal or contact member 4B will be raised out of engagement with the contact member 41 and thus break the circuit at that point. As soon as the rod 49 is released the member 48 will again move into contact with ymember 41, thus closing the circuit. In orderv that the bar 49 will function a radio loud speaker element 5| is used and is connected through a suitable rod 52 firmly to rod 49, whereby as the loud speaker vibrates the rod 49 will be raised and lowered. thereby making and breaking the circuit terminal 40, and from thence directly at creases the needle on the galvanometer 34 will 60 at point 53. In order to operate the loud speaker element 5l there is provided an oscillating tube 54 of the usual construction and connected in the usual way of oscillating tubes so that other description thereof is not A The wires 55 and 56 are connected to the primary winding 51 of a transformer 58, and a secondary coil 59 is connected through wires 60 and 6| to the' terminals B2 and 63 of the interrupter, namely, to the terminals 62 and 63 of the radio loud speaker element 5l, as shown in Figure 2.

Instead of using the construction shown in Figure 2 as an interrupter, other forms of interrupters could be used as, for instance, by a controlled cathode tube method, or by a mechanical structure as shown in Figure 3. In this form of the invention there is used an interrupting device similar -to Figure 2, but instead of using the radio loud speaker element, a shaft 64 is provided having a fiat surface 65 adapted to enrod or shaft is directly connected to an electric or other motor 66. If desired, the motor 66 could be connected to the rod or shaft 64 through a multiplying mechamsm whereby the rod would operate at high speed and produce a large number of interruptions per minute. It is to be understood, of course, that any desired form of interrupter I6 may be used provided the same can function with infinitesimal current.

When the device is in use the hood 2 with the it may be aimed at objects in the sky or obJects on the earth, and as it is caused to function through the use of invisible heat rays, it will function in the night time as well as in the day time, and will also function when there is a fog as well as when the weather is clear.

`When af hot object is acting on the thermocouple current will flow as described and be amplified by the transformer 6, which amplified current is again amplied by the transformer 2li, and this current is in turn amplified by the coupled amplincation "A. When using the transformer 29 the current is amplied to increase the amperage and reduce the voltage so that a head phone 43 may be caused to function, or other instrument as, for instance, a galvanometer 34. When the parts are all coupled up as just described the needle on the galvanometer 34 will function accurately to indicate the action of the thermocouple Iincluding the increase and decrease of current produced by the coupler. For instance, when the coupler is being swung so as to gradually be brought in line with a heated object, current will start to flow and increase to a maximum when the thermocouple is aimed the hot object. As the current incontinue to swing away from zero, but as soon as the thermocouple moves line toward the hot object the needle will begin to move back towards zero and will reach zero substantially immediately upon the movement of 65 thethermocouple away from the influence ofthe hot object.

From the construction discussed it will be seen that all parts 'are comparatively sturdy for a delicate instrument of this kind and, consequent- 7i ly, will stand the vibration of a ship, airplane or the like without being injured or caused to function inaccurately thereby. Also, by the increase in the power of the current a comparatively strong and nonfdelicate galvanometer or other7 thought necessary. 5

Instruz-nent may be used as indicated at u in Figure 1.

I claim:- 

